Fluid treatment of artificial silk yarns



July 16,1929. 1 BRNDWOOD T 1.720.760

FLUID TREATMENT OF' ARTIFICIAL SILK YARNS Filed Aug. 29 19274 2Sheets-Shee. l

July 16, 1929. .1. BRANDWOOD FLUID -TREATMENTOF ARTIFICIAL SILK YARNS 2shets-sheei Filed Aug. 29,

l Patented July '16, 1929.

1,120,760 PATENT, OFFICE.

UNITED STATES JOHNl BRANDWOOD, OF BIRKDALE, SOUTHPORT, 'ENGLAND FLUIDTREATMENT' OF A RTIFICIAL'SILK YARNS.

Application filed August 29,1927, Serial No. 216,300, and inlGrcatBritain September 2, 1926;

The dyeing and other analogous liquid treatment*herein deemed to beincluded in the expression dyeing Where the context admits-of artificialsilk yarns in skeins pre-V sent problems which do not present themselvesin the treatment oi staple fibers, e. g. cot-ton. The nature of theartificial silk in the Wet state causes considerable Waste if-` thematerial is carelessly handled and it is a dcsideratum therefore thatitshould in that state be subjected to as little handling as possible bythe operatives in a mill. In usual practice, the skeins after dyeinghave to be removed from their holders and are then placed in perforatedboxes or other receptacles and subjected, for the removal of superfluousmoisture, to Whizzing in the usual hydro-extractor apparatus, thisinvolving the bunching up ot' the skeins, With Waste of material'andmoreover of time employed in the operation of removal and whizzing inthis condition. Further,v the affinity ot' liquor for the artificialsilk differs from that otcottons and other fibres, and care has to 25 beexercised in the liquor treatment e. g.

dyeing, it' the yarns are trated. v

The objects of the present invention "are twofold, viz: to ensure thatyarns in skein 3o or loop'pform need to be handled .in their Wet stateas they come from a dye bath by prolviding for removal of thesuperfluous moisture from the skeins without changing their skein form",and to vdye and treat large quantities of the yarns in a rapidandeiicient manner, witha savingof labour and time and also a considerablesaving in waste.

According to the invention I immerse the skeins in a dye bath and givethem'the de- 40 sired movement or movements reversing such movement ormovements if desired inthe i said bath for the purpose ofdyeing and thenremove the skeins and the volume of bath liquor out 'of contact, thengiving the skeins to b e evenly penea rotary motion at a high speedaround theiry own centres so that the superfluous moisture is removed'therefrom by centrifugal force.

Y/Any movement may be given to the skeins in the dye bath which movementwill serve for the effective dyeing of the skeins but prefer to give thesaid skeins movement in two directions, one in the direction of the yarnlength of the skein and the other in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to such yarn lengths, these two movements being impartedto the skeins simultaneously.

The invention-Witha ver suitable appa-l ratusfor carrying it into e ect,Will now be described vwith reference to the accompany:

' Figures- 1 and 2- are respectively a planbroken-and a side elevationof a treatment i tank to illustrate'means for treating yarn skeinsmounted on a plurality of holders simultaneously.

Figure 3 is a tion therein to show' the-meansfor mounting and drivinga'liolder Within the tank, Figure 4 being a section of Figure 3Q Thesefigures? show also the detailed construction of a preferred type ofskein holder. In Figures 1 and 2 a tank 5 of convenient size to take avplurality of skein holders at a single Icharge is shown, this tank beingof ordinary form and construction and as known in the dyeing and othertreatment of textiles, having a storage tank communicatmg therewith andapump which may charge the said tank Withthe liquor and empty it asdesired, or by suitable manipulation of valves, circulate the liquorthrough the said fragmentary sectionpf a Y treatment tank with la yarnholder in .positank during the treatment of the yarns. vAt I -may rotatefreely. On the opposite Wall 9 of the tank 5 at each holder position isa Vsimilar V guide 10 with a similar bearing 11. Each skein holder vcanthus be safely and certainly lowered into its bearings 8 and 11 in thetank yWithout chance of error or the necessity of tumbling .in theliquor bath on theA part of the operatives.

At each holder position in the tank 5 is fitted a driving stub sha-ft 12which passes through the Wall 6 of the tank and to ensure liquortightness, through a gland 13. -Each suchy shaft 12 has `keyed on theinner end thereof that is Within the tank 5, a spur Wheel 14 and onthe-outer ends of these stub shafts 12 are keyed the rope pulleys 15grooved `for the reception of an endless driving rope 16 which passesover and under the successive rope pulleys 15 in series-see Figure 2-andaround guide pulleys 17, Aand a tensioning pulley 1S. Thetensioningpulley 18 is borne on slidable bearings 19 in slotted side brackets 2Owhich bearings are vertically adjustable by threaded spindle 21 tionwithl such tensioning pulleys. Pedestal bearings, of known form ...andconstruci' ing shaft 38 of a motor.

tion, are provided at 23 for the stub shafts One of the shafts 12--seeright hand of Figure v1*is prolonged at'24, and passes through apedestal bea-ring 25, theextreme end of this shaft prolongation havingkeyed thereon the bevel gear wheel 26 which is in constant mesh with twofurther bevel gear wheels 27 and 28 rotatably mounted on the shaft 29which is supported in bearings 30. Upon the shaft 29 and midway betweenthe two gear wheels 27 and 28 is mounted by a sliding key and vkkeyway aclutch member 31 each face of which is formed as a dog clutch to engagewith corresponding clutch members 32 and 33 on the bevel gear wheels 27and 28. Upon the end of the shaft 29 is i keyed a further bevel gearwheel 34 inmesh with a further bevel gear wheel 35 keyed on a shaft 36on which is also keyed the worm gear wheel of a reduction gear 37the-Worm drum of which is fitted on a drivholders within the tank thenecessary movements therefore the clutch member 31 is envgaged with oneof the bevel gear wheels 27, 28, and from motor shaft 38 and thetransmission gearing rotation is imparted to shaft 29 and the shaftprolongation 24 and by the interconnecting rope drive to all the holderssimultaneously. To reverse this motion the clutch member 31 is engagedwith the other bevel gear wheel, and to stop such rotation the clutchmember 31 is placed in its non-operative position, which it occupies inFigure 1.

A further clutch 39 slidable'upon the m0- tor shaft E38-left hand ofFigure l-is adapted to engage with a bevel gear wheel 40 rotatablymounted on the said motor tion being shaft`38 and meshing with thefurther bevel gear wheel 41 which is keyed on-a prolonga.- `tion 42 ofthe end shaft 12, this prolongaborne in a pedestal bearing 43. The'shaft38 therefore through this transmission gearing may drive all the shafts12 simultaneously but at a-higher speed than that required for liquortreatment. The ratio of these two speeds may be any desirable.

By this arrangement as described, each stub shaft 12 will receiverotation in one direction or the other as desired from the To give theskein Referring' first to Figures Band 4, which show a skein holderwhich is of suitable` dimensions to fit in the bearings 8 and 11 ofthe-tankfof Figure 1 when itsY ends are droppedin the` V guides7 and 10of such tank. End brackets 44 and 45 are con-l nected by thelongitudinal shaft 46 which 'is secured in the brackets by means of anut 47 and the shaft 48 also serves to secure the brackets together.IThis latter shaft 48 however passes through sl0ts 49 in the bracketsand one end entersa bearing 50 which is slidable-in one of the slots 49in brackets 45. The other end of the ,shaft passes through the slot 49in bracket 44. The bearing 50 is'flanged at 51 to keep it in slidingposition and the milled nut 52 servesto' secure the shaftbearing'inany'a/djusted position in the slot 49 of bracket 45. To eachbracket4 45 is..secured the end shafts 53 and 54 which rest in thebearings 8 and 11 of the Vguides 7 and 10 in the tank.

On' each of the shafts 46 and 48 is rotatably mounted a pair of-flanges55 and 56 which are connected by six tubes-57 placed angularly atregular intervals around the Each aggregation of fianges A said shaft. A55 and 56 andthe tubes 57' forms gli arbor and when in operation skeins'of yarn are mounted on the said larbors to fill the space between theflanges 55 and 56.

Compounded with the flange 55 of each 'i arbor by means of aA collar 58which is rotatable in the bracket 44 is the spur pinion 5S),

and each of these pinions 59 meshes with a central spur gear wheel-60which is loose on the endshaft -53 of the holder. The. spur gear wheel60 bears a boss 61 having a ra.-

dial metal peg 62 which is adapted to be engaged by the end of a pivotedleve-r 63, which is orificed for the purpose. On this `end shaft53,again, is a spur pinion 64 chine is described. 1

To collapse the holder for the purpose of.

passing a'charge of yarn skeins thereon, the nut 52 is slackened and thespur gear wheel 61, which as stated is loose on the shaft 53, is sliddentowardsthe spur pinion 64. The

A,shaft 48 with the flanges and tubes forming the arbor can then bemoved inwardly so that the' charge of skeins`may. be easily mounted onthe holder.

It will be seen that when the holder is charged the shaft 48 and itsborne arbor can llO be moved back to the position of Figures 3 and 4,the spur gear wheel 61 moved back into position to mesh with the spurpinions 59 vand the nut 52 again screwed up.

It will be understood that this charging 4operation takes place beforethe holder is placed in its bearings 8 and 11 in the tank. A suitableframe or table may be provided to receive the holder during the saidoperation.

The dimensions of the holder are such that a heavy charge of skeins maybe placed thereon if desired, and the extreme width or transversedimension of the holder when fully extended is such that the skeins areheld thereon with a. certain degree ot' slackness which will avoiddamage to them but will prevent their interference one with the other asthey pass through the volume of liquor in t-he bath.

In the construction shown, the collar 55 of the lower arbor in thefigure rests against the lower end of the slot 49 in bracket 44, and thespur gear wheelf61 meshing with the spur pinions 59 maintains it in thatposition .without special securingmeans on V that side 'of theholder,rbut as will be understood securing Anuts may be arranged tomaint-ain the shaft 48 in position when the saidshaft is again adjustedoutwardly when the holder is fully charged with skeins. The operation isas follows A skein holder is placed upon a suitable table or frame and.one end bracket- 45 removed. The spur gear Wheel 61 which is loose onthe centreshaft 53 is moved back and the arbor shaft 48 with its arboris moved radially inwardly of the holder so that skeins may be easilyslipped over the two arbors, the'holder being thus charged with thedesired number of skeins between the ianges 55 and 56. These latter areof a dimension which will allow of the skeins slipping over them easily.The'holder being charged the bracket is again screwed into positionandthe said holder lifted by means of a winch or other device-or by handit' the apparatus is not a large one-and allowed to drop into itsbearings 8 and 1l in the V guides 7 `and 10. lVhen in this positionthespur pinion 64 on the ccentral shaft 53 of the holder meshes withspur gear wheel 14 on the stub shaft 12 of the holder position. Thelever 63 is then moved Aand engages by its orifice with ythe peg 62 onthe boss 11 of the spur pinion 60 thus rentioned in the tank 5, and the`clutch 31 of ,60'

dering the latter stationary. All the holders of the apparatus are thuscharged and posi- Figure 1 being engaged with the bevel gear ".wheel 27-and the motor started the holders .all rotate-'around their own centralaxes. At

the4 same time, due to the meshing-of spur pinions 59 of the arbors ofeach holder with the central pinion 60, the arbors each have rotationaround their own axes, the'skeinsv thus having the two movementsdesired; one in the direction ot' their yarn length andthe othersubstantially perpendicular to such yarn length owing to the bodilymovement of the skeins around the central axes of the holder. 1

lVhen the treatment has been continued for the desired time the clutch31 is moved over and engaged with the bevel gear wheel 28 of the gearingof Figure 1 and the two movements of the skeins are thus reversed, thisalternate change ol direction taking place as often as desired.

The liquor treatment being completed, the clutch 3l ismoved to its freeposition between the bevel gear wheels 27. and 28 and all movementvo theskeins stops, the tank 5,is 4then emptied sufficiently to free theskeins of all contact with the liquor volume of the bath and the levers63 are' then moved to disengage them from the spur wheels mences, but ata higher speed lthan that afforded by the gearing to the right hand sideof Figure 1, this higher speed of rotation of the holders beingsutlicient. to throw off the. superfluous moisture from the skeinshwhichare now in atmosphereby centrifugal force. The skeins inv this operartion are not moved in the direction of their yarn length, as the spurgear wheels 6l of all the skein holders are again loose and are simplyidle wheels, imparting no drive to the arbors. The holders are thenremoved from the tank and an end bracket 45 of each being again removedand the holder collapsed by inward movement of the arbor shaft 48, theskeins are removed to be replaced by a fresh charge.

By totally immersing the skeins in the liquor whilst vleaving to thesaid'skeins just sutlicient slaekness on their arbors to prevent themmakingv contact with each other during their move-ments, a floatingeffect is produced which keeps them in their respective positions on thearbors. Further, the use of an aggregation of tubes as 'an arbor allowsof the access of the treatment liquor to all parts of the skein at onetime so that the movements given to the skeins allow of their beingtreated evenly with the liquor. Further, the whole construction of theapparatus permits of a very large quantityf skeins being treated at onetime.

Any part of the apparatus may be of non- 'corrodible metal or alloy orbe coated or iso . skeins, movable skein bea-ring surfaces in theholder, means for rotating theholder around its own axis and for movingthe said skein l'iearing surfaces simultaneously, and means for causingthe cessation of movement of the skein bearing surfaces whilst rotatingthe holder around its own axis.

2. For' the d veing'and subsequent drying by cci'iti'ifugal force ofartificial silk threads in looped skt-in form, a holder to receive theskeins, ii'iovable skeiny bearing surfaces on the holder, connectedmeans for rotating the holder around its own axis and for moving thesaid skein bearing surfaces siniulta iicously, means for causing thecessation of movement of the skein bearing surfaces whilst rotating theholder around its own axis. a central shaft in the holder, a treatumenttank, a driving shaft in the treatment tank, means for positioningand bearing Vthe holder in the treatment tank, means for rotating thedri-ving shaft at two different speeds, and driving means between thesaid driving shaft and the holder centre shaft.

3. For the dyeing and subsequent drying by centrifugal force ofartificial silk threads in looped skein form, a holder for the skeins,rotatable arbors inthe holder which arbors form yarn bearing surfaces, aspur pinion on each arbor, a central shaft in the holder, a spur gearwheel rotatably and slidably mounted on the central shaft and ineshablewith the spur pinions, and a fixed lever engaging with the spur gearwheel to convert it into a fixed gear wheel and disengaging therefrom toyconvert it into an idle gear wheel, for the purpose set forth.

4. For the dyeing and subsequent drying by centrifugal force ofartii'icial silk threads in looped skein form, a holder for the skeins,rotatable arbors in the holder which arbors form yarn bearing surfaces,a spur pinion on each arbor, a central shaft in theholder, a spur gearwheel rotatably and slidably -mounted on 'the central shaft and meshabletank, means forv rotating the driving shaft at two different speeds, anddriving means between the said. driving shaft and the holder centreshaft.

5. For the dyeing and subsequent drying by Acentrifugal force ofartificial silk threads in looped skein form, rotatable aibors in theholder which arbors form skein bearing surfaces, a spur pinion on eacharbor, a central shaft in the holder, a spur gear wheel rotatably andslidably mounted on the central shaft and mesliable with the spurpinions, a fixed lever engaging with the spur gear wheel to convert itinto a fixed gear wheel and disengaging therefrom to convert it into anidle 'gear wheel, a treatment tank, V guides within the tank, bearingsat the bottom of such V guides, a driving shaft with fixed spur wheelwithin the tank, and a spur wheel. on the central shaft of the skeinholder, these spur wheels meshing when the holder is positioned withinthe tank by the V guides, and means for rotating the driving shaft attwo differentV speeds.

(i. For the dyeing and subsequent drying by centrifugal force ofartificial silk threads in looped skein form, a holder to receive theskeins, movable skein bearing surfaces on the holder, means for rotatingthe holderaround its own axis and for moving the skein bearing surfacessimultaneously, means for causing the' cessation of movement of theskein bearing surfaces whilst rotating the holder around its own axis, atreatment tank, a driving shaft in the 'treatment tank, V guides withinthe tank, bearings at the bottom of such V guides, a spur gear wheel onthe driving shaft within the tank, a spur gear Awheel on the centralshaft of the holder, these spur gear wheels meshing when the holderispositioned by the V guides, and means for rotating the driving shaftat two different speeds.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto seti my hand.

. `JOHN BRANDWOOD.

